Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA treatment records and a medical examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not etiologically related to her active service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right upper extremity disorder to include arthritis, and left upper extremity disorder to include arthritis as the Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied, and the claim for TDIU was also denied. The new medical evidence from Dr. M.S. supports the Veteran's contention that his cardiovascular disease makes him unable to maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current severity, with some issues receiving higher ratings than others. The overall disposition is denied for all claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, heart disease, and kidney failure were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The claims for secondary service connection to his service-connected urethral stricture with contracture of bladder neck and cystitis were denied.

The Board found that the appellant's prostate condition and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, including exposure to chemical dioxins. The conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The appeals have been withdrawn by the appellant prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which is higher than what he seeks.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service, including his presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left tibial tubercle fracture with osteoarthritic changes and chronic chondromalacia of the knee; entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for recurrent subluxation of the left knee; and entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, hypertension, hypertensive heart disease and osteomyelitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension, which he claims is due to exposure to herbicides and also secondary to his PTSD.

The Board found no current diagnosis of hypertension or a heart disability, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right thigh myositis ossificans and right knee osteoarthritis were granted initial evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings. Service connection was established for hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary obstruction, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disorders were not present in service, did not manifest to a compensably disabling degree within the first year after his discharge from active duty, and are not shown to be etiologically related to service or presumed herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and addressing the timeliness of the NODs and new and material evidence issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure, as well as diabetes. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board found that a heart disorder, including hypertension, was not related to service and denied the claim.